Three joys icon for which they pray. Powerful prayer before the icon of the “Three Joys”

Retire to a secluded place so that no one will disturb you. Light a candle or lamp. Stand in front of icons (icons preferably of Jesus)

Pantocrator, Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker, and, if there is, then John Chrysostom - a wonderful and very powerful icon!)

First, read the Our Father prayer, at this moment thinking only about the Lord and His help to you, do not be distracted by other thoughts.
Now thank the Lord for all the good that He does, for your life, even if it is not going well, ask the Lord for forgiveness for all your sins, voluntary and involuntary.

And start reading the prayer. Read slowly, legibly, thinking about every word and being aware of what you are reading.

Oh, great saint John Chrysostom! You have received many and varied gifts from the Lord, and as a good and faithful servant, you have multiplied all the talents given to you for good: for this reason, you were truly a universal teacher, as every age and every rank comes from you.

Behold, you appeared as an image of obedience to the youth, a luminary of chastity to the young, a mentor of hard work to the husband, a teacher of kindness to the old, a teacher of kindness to the monk, a rule of abstinence to those who pray, an inspired leader from God to those who pray, an enlightener of the mind to those who seek wisdom, to those who are kind-hearted, the words of a living source are inexhaustible, to those who do good - the star of mercy, the ruler - the image of the wise, the zealot of truth - the inspirer of boldness, the righteousness for the sake of the persecuted - the mentor of patience: you were everything to everyone, and you saved everyone.

Over all of these you have acquired love, which is the basis of perfection, and with that, as if by the power of the Divine, you have united all the gifts in your soul into one, and the reconciling love shared here, in the interpretation of the words of the apostles, you preached to all the faithful. We are sinners, each one having his own gift, the unity of the spirit in the union of peace are not imams, but we are vainglorious, irritating each other, envious of each other: for this sake of the gift, our divided not into peace and salvation, but into enmity and condemnation, turned over to us.

Moreover, we fall to you, the saint of God, overwhelmed by discord, and in contrition of heart we ask: with your prayers drive away from our hearts all pride and envy that divides us, so that in many places we may remain one church body without restraint, so that we may love you according to your prayerful words. each other and with one mind we confess the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, Consubstantial and Indivisible, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for despair and depression (very powerful force!)

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Prayer before the icon " Three Joys»:

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the protection of the reigning city and the holy temple of this temple, faithful representative and intercessor of all! Do not despise the prayers of us, your unworthy servants, but beg your son and our God, so that all of us, with faith and tenderness before your miraculous image, worship, according to every need, grant joy: to the sinner all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; consolation for those who are in sorrow and sorrow; in the troubles and bitterness of those who remain there is a complete abundance of these; hope and patience for the faint-hearted and unreliable; those who live in joy and abundance give unceasing thanksgiving to God; those who exist in illness are healing and strengthening. O Madam Most Pure! Have mercy on all who honor the all-honorable your name, and show everyone your all-powerful protection and intercession: protect and preserve your people from enemies, visible and invisible. Establish marriages in love and like-mindedness; educate infants, young ones to be wise, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching; Protect half-blooded people from domestic quarrels with peace and love, and give us all love for each other, peace and piety and health with long life, so that everyone in heaven and on earth will lead You, as a strong and shameless representative of the Christian race, and these leading , glorify Thee and Thy Son with Thee, with His beginningless Father and His consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And one more icon should be in every home; it greatly helps unhappy and grieving people - the icon of “Joy of All Who Sorrow”!

Prayer before the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow”:

O God-loving Queen, inexperienced Virgin, Mother of God Mary, pray for us to Thy Son, Who loved and was born of You, Christ our God: grant us forgiveness of sins, peace, peace, abundance of fruits for the earth, holiness for the shepherd, and salvation for the whole human race. Save our cities and the Russian country from the presence of foreign invaders, and from internecine warfare. O Mother, God-loving Virgin! About the all-singing Queen! Cover us with Your robe from all evil, protect us from visible and invisible enemies and save our souls. Amen.

If you are in a state of grief or depression, you may well find that you find it difficult to pray or unable to pray at all. During depression, this state of “prayer dryness” occurs very often. Of the dozens of religious people with depression with whom I have dealt, there was not a single one who did not complain about prayer difficulties. It seems that the inability to pray can be considered one of the symptoms of a state of depression.

The bitter irony of life: just when the support of the Lord and the feeling of His presence are especially important for a person, turning to Him fails. You try to pray, but you feel that your prayer is formal, mechanical, the words of the prayer seem meaningless to you, and this makes you feel even worse. You begin to feel guilty for being such a bad Christian (or a bad Christian), and the feeling of guilt, as usual, aggravates your already difficult condition.
If this has happened or is happening to you, do not worry: you are in a normal situation, which is the rule, not the exception.

If in grief or depression you cannot pray as before, do not torment yourself with reproaches for your lack of faith and how unspiritual you have become. Do not think that something irreversible has happened to you and that you have fallen into the arms of Satan forever. When your depression ends (and it will end, trust me!), you will regain the desire and ability to pray.

Remember: our God is not an accountant, a jailer and a judge all rolled into one, who, with a ledger in one hand and a stopwatch in the other, watches you with passion, notes the number and duration of your prayers, and then passes judgment on you. He is a loving and forgiving God, whose love is so great and strong that it cannot be measured by the human mind. He sees you, understands how you feel now and wants to help you.
Some tips for those who have difficulty praying when they are depressed:

No matter what, try to pray every day, even though you don’t feel like it.

Don't demand too much from yourself. Don't make comparisons to what it was like when you weren't depressed. Do not stand for prayer with a predetermined time (say, 10 or 15 minutes). You may not be able to pray for that long, which will give you another reason to beat yourself up (which you already do too much).

Depression makes it difficult to concentrate on anything, including prayer. Let your prayer be short but heartfelt.
If you are tormented by remorse that you cannot pray for a long time, “like before,” break your prayer “into pieces” and pray for one minute several times a day. Remember: better short prayer than none!

In a state of depression, it is better to pray in your own words (when you read a prayer, due to absent-minded attention, there is a great danger of slipping into a mechanical “babble”). Share your pain with God. For example, you might say, “God, I feel so bad right now. I don't know how to live further. Lord, forgive me and help me!” Or: “Lord, my soul is so heavy that I can’t even pray. Forgive me, Lord, and help me get out of this state.”

Even if they are completely short prayers are difficult for you, pray the “Jesus Prayer”: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

If you want to pray a known prayer rather than in your own words, take a short, simple, well-known one, such as the Lord's Prayer. Try, despite your mood, to read it with feeling, and not automatically. However, do not blame yourself if you feel that you are not praying “from the heart.” God hears you.

If all of the above is difficult for you, write a short (one phrase or a couple of phrases) prayer on a card or small piece of paper. Carry it with you and read it several times a day.
Remember: by praying, you fight depression!

Remember: your condition will not last forever. Take heart and be patient. God's love always with you.

A very powerful icon. Pray and you will be heard.

Since ancient times in Rus' it was customary to bow and ask for protection and help before holy images. They heal, save, help and revive those who earnestly pray for them, because those who ask always receive. There are a great many such icons, but those that became famous for their miracles are especially revered. These include the Miraculous Icon Holy Mother of God"Three Joys" We will talk about this miraculous image today.

Icon of the Three Joys

The history of the appearance of a particularly revered shrine in Rus' is interesting. Long ago, at the beginning of the 18th century, during the reign of Tsar Peter I, it became fashionable for young people to receive education abroad. A young Russian painter was sent to Italy to study, who, upon completion of his studies, brought with him to his homeland an exact image of the Catholic icon of the Mother of God “The Holy Family”. Scientists believe that the original of this icon was painted by Raphael himself, the great creator and embodiment artistic style and taste. The young artist, educated in the best Western traditions, presented the holy image to the priest of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazekh. He was his relative, and in turn, gave the lists of the icon to the temple. For some time nothing was heard about her, but 40 years later the first miracle happened.

Three joys in joy

Legend has it that one noble, respectable lady from an aristocratic society found herself in a difficult life situation and suffered great losses. Three things happened to her at the same time. So, her beloved husband was slandered and sent to prison. The family's ancestral estate was taken away, and her only son captured on the battlefields. The unhappy woman looked everywhere for help in overcoming evil rock. She fervently and sincerely prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos, begging her for protection and help with prayers and tears. Every night she turned to her for advice, until one day, in a dream, she heard a voice that commanded her to find the icon of the Holy Family and pray before the holy image. For a long time, the unfortunate woman wandered through the churches of Moscow and looked for this icon, until she came to the Trinity Church on Gryazekh. There, on the porch of the Trinity Church, on Pokrovka, was the icon of the Holy Family. Falling to her knees, the venerable lady prayed fervently next to the holy image.

After some time, she received three good news: her husband was acquitted, and he finally returned home from exile, his son was rescued from captivity, and the family estate was returned. It was from that time that this image began to be called the icon of the “Three Joys”. The parishioners who prayed to this image also noticed that the joy from this icon came threefold.

Holy face

The icon depicts the Infant God on the knees of the Most Holy Theotokos with a white flower in his hands. To the right of the center is Joseph the Betrothed, and to the left is John the Baptist in at a young age. Both look lovingly at the Divine Child. The icon of the “Three Joys” is celebrated on December 26 according to the old style (or January 8 according to the new style). Only once a year, parishioners of the Trinity Church on Gryazekh have the opportunity to especially honor the memory and ask the saints for protection and forgiveness. However, it always “works”: crowds of believers strive to worship the holy image every day.

What to pray for in front of the shrine?

Many people come to venerate the image of the Mother of God with a variety of requests and pleas, because it is believed that she helps in many cases. Those who find themselves in a difficult situation in a foreign land or are members of the army service in hot spots. Diligent prayer to the icon of the “Three Joys” helps to return what was lost, to free oneself from captivity, and to escape from the enemy. Before this image, they ask for healing from an illness, for the successful resolution of an important matter. Very often, undeservedly slandered sufferers or those who have lost property acquired honest work. The image became famous for its miracles; there are many cases where something lost was returned to its rightful owner.

Grace of the sovereign

Historians know for certain that the icon of the “Three Joys” enjoyed respect and honor in the royal house of the Romanov family. One of the copies of this icon was presented to Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II. The gift was made by the Empress's maid of honor Anna Fedorovna Aksakova, who, after the death of Maria Alexandrovna, took the icon back for a while. But then she returned the icon to the Romanov house, handing it to the wife of Tsarevich Sergei Alexandrovich, Elizabeth Feodorovna. At the same time it was said: “I want your bride to accept the image as a blessing from your mother...”

But it was not only in the rich chambers of the royal house that the icon of the “Three Joys” was held in high esteem. The common people also fervently prayed before the image and, by their faith, received miracles. The inhabitants of Kuban loved the shrine very much. The icon of the Mother of God of the “Three Joys” helped the mothers and wives of the Kuban Cossacks. Thanks to sincere prayers in front of the shrine, their brothers, sons and husbands returned safely from military campaigns.

Lists icons

Currently, the icon of the “Three Joys” in Moscow is located on the territory of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazekh near the Pokrovsky Gate. This is the oldest list of icons, written in the mid-19th century. It was here, to this monastery, that the holy image was brought from Italy Mother of God“Three Joys”, which disappeared during difficult revolutionary times, and the temple was closed. The fate of the original image is still unknown.

There are two more revered copies of the “Three Joys” icon. One is located in Moscow, in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonovo, and the second is in the house church of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, at the Sofrinsky operational brigade.

When the Trinity Church on Gryazekh was reopened in 1992, several icons were presented to the parishioners. These icons were seized at customs when they wanted to illegally export them abroad. Among them was the icon of the Mother of God of the Three Joys. This is a list of Italian icons, but written in the Russian icon painting tradition of the 19th century. In front of this icon, a lamp miraculously lit itself, after which it began to be especially revered. Always on Wednesdays, a service is held near the image and the Akathist is always read.

Meaning of the image

The icon of the “Three Joys” is revered and loved by the people. Its significance is great for the Orthodox people. A fervently crying parishioner always receives what he asks for with an open heart and pure thoughts. The image gives those who ask for healing from diseases, including cancer. They pray before him for the gift of children, successful marriage or marriage. The shrine returns the mind to those who have lost their minds, helps to find a way out of a difficult situation, and gives a person strength. That is why the icon of the “Three Joys” is so revered - the meaning attached to it by the Russian people is important for every believer.

Help for a pilgrim

The icon of the “Three Joys” is the second main shrine of the temple Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazekh, located at the Pokrovsky Gate. You can attend services on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Also, every Monday a prayer service is held to St. David of Gareji, and every Thursday to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. These are two more especially revered shrines of the temple, but we will talk about them another time.

There are many icons of the Mother of God to which people pray for joy. There is an image of “Joy to all who mourn”; believers who suffer hardships and seek relief from problems fall for it. To the icon " Unexpected joy“sinners read prayers, hoping that the Lord will forgive them. And there are also icons “The Inexhaustible Chalice”, “ Everlasting color”, “Three-handed”, “Consolation and Consolation”... But in our article today we will talk only about one specific image. Who created it and when, what do they pray for when falling before this face of the Mother of God?

At the beginning of the 18th century (the time of Peter the Great), a young Russian painter, according to the fashion of that time, was sent to study in Italy. There he became acquainted with the work of famous artists, and it impressed him so much that he even created a copy of the popular image of Raphael, called “The Holy Family”.

The artist brought his work to his homeland, presenting it to a relative who is the rector of the church (namely, the Church of the Holy Trinity, located in Gryazi, a village today considered a “golden corner”, but at that time it was a tiny settlement). When the artist died, the abbot decided to place the image on the porch.

But this icon would have remained just a beautiful copy (however, very beloved by the believers of that time), if it had not helped create a happy miracle. It didn’t happen immediately, but 40 years later.

One noble woman suffered a series of misfortunes: her son (the only one fighting at that time) was captured, her husband was sent into exile because of the enemy’s slander, and her estate was taken away. The unfortunate woman could only pray to the Virgin Mary. Soon, in a dream, she was told to go to the temple and fall before this very image of the Mother of God, asking her for intercession. The woman searched for this icon for a long time until she finally entered the Trinity Church... And later her husband and son returned home, and even returned the property to the family. These are the three joys in whose honor the icon was named.

Local artists, when painting it, already applied Russian painting traditions, so now “Three Joys” does not look like the classic “Holy Family”.

Historians say: the icon was very popular in Russian Empire. But she enjoyed special honor among the Kuban and Don Cossacks, as well as their mothers and wives, who often prayed for their sons and husbands who had fought and disappeared from home for a long time. And besides, this face enjoyed special respect among the royal family.

Pilgrimage: where can you venerate such an icon in Russia?

Of course, having learned the history of the icon, many believers would happily fall to it... But the original image of the “Three Joys” was lost during the times of the USSR. Fortunately, the lists (that is, copies and subsequent versions) remained intact, and some of them also have miraculous powers.

They can be seen:

• in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity (the village of Gryazi, Moscow region - here, by the way, a prayer service with an akathist in honor of this image is performed every Wednesday, and the icon is solemnly taken out of the altar);
• in the Church of the Deposition of the Venerable Robe of the Virgin Mary (Moscow);
• in the Temple of the Deposition of the Robe (Leonov);
• in the house church at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The icon has its own religious holiday: December 26 according to the old style, January 8 according to the new style. Therefore, if you want to go on a pilgrimage to the church with this face of the Mother of God, this date would be perfect.

What does it mean?

In addition to the Virgin Mary and her Son, the icon of the “Three Joys” depicts:

• The Holy Baptist (aka the Forerunner, an ascetic who predicted the imminent appearance of the Messiah and later dipped him into the Jordan River as a sign of deliverance from sins - this rite was later called baptism). It was his head that Herodias and her daughter Salome demanded as a gift from the ruler, and, unfortunately, they received. On the icon he is depicted as a boy or youth, since he was born a little earlier than Jesus. According to holy books, he was His relative.
• The Holy Righteous Betrothed (the same carpenter, Mary’s husband, who raised Jesus). They call him the betrothed because Joseph was engaged to Mary when he learned that she was carrying a child under her heart. But he did not refuse to take her as his wife and raised her Son, which is why many in Galilee considered Jesus the son of Joseph.

That is, we see the Holy Family. Therefore, most often prayers are offered to this icon for people who are relatives, close or distant.

In what life situations does the icon of the “Mother of the Three Joys” serve as an assistant?

• Someone in the family serves in the army, and this military man was sent to war or a dangerous mission (but remember: you need to pray not only that the Lord will protect your loved one from death or injury, but also that He would mercifully protect him from committing one of worst sins- murders).
• A thief broke into your home or wallet and stole something valuable.
• The man wants to return loved one who has moved away from him (by his own free will or force of circumstances).
• Threatened family happiness(a serious quarrel has begun, a disagreement has begun, divorce is threatening).
• The bank threatens to take away the real estate.
• A relative or close friend works/temporarily lives in a distant location.
• A person or his relative has been slandered and accused of something serious. He might even face trial.
• A person is confused and wants to find the true path.

How to pray to this icon?

There is a popular prayer, which we suggest you read and save. You can address the image with these words both in church and at home. The main thing is to distance yourself as much as possible from everything worldly and vain, to cleanse the soul. If possible, confess before reading, but if not, sincerely repent.

However, the prayer can be any other. After all, the main thing is not the automatic reading of certain words, but sincere thoughts and true faith with which the prayer is pronounced. And then Our Lady will help you, as she once helped that poor woman who fell to her knees before her image in the village of Mud.

And in the end, we invite you to listen to how the patronal feast dedicated to this icon is held in the church.

Tell your fortune for today using the “Card of the Day” Tarot layout!

For correct fortune telling: focus on the subconscious and don’t think about anything for at least 1-2 minutes.

When you are ready, draw a card:

If trouble happened to you or your loved ones in a foreign land, you were slandered or illegally deprived of property, then a prayer to the icon of the “Three Joys” can help all those who are innocently guilty and bear the burden of unfair punishment.

The history of this image is unusual and contains many secrets and miracles.

It is believed that the original of the “Three Joys” icon was brought to Moscow by a talented Russian artist during the time of Peter I. The beginning of the 18th century was marked by a fashion for everything Western, the borders of the state became open, and rich noble youth gained the opportunity to receive education abroad. One aspiring artist took advantage of this. Having studied painting in Italy, he brought several paintings home, among which was the painting “The Holy Family.” On it, in a free manner, not at all according to Orthodox church canons, four figures were depicted - the Mother of God, the baby Jesus, Joseph the Betrothed and John the Baptist.

How did the creation take place?

In the manner of painting, the canvas was very reminiscent of the paintings of the great Renaissance artist Raphael Santi, in particular, his “Holy Family” and “Madonna in an Armchair”. Probably, his creations inspired the Russian painter so much that he created his own free interpretation.

The artist gave the painting to his relative, the priest of the Moscow Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Gryazekh. Unfortunately, history has not preserved the name of the author of the work. After the painter’s death, the priest placed the painting as an icon above the entrance to the temple, in front of the porch, giving it the name “Holy Family.” Alas, the original icon has not survived to this day; during the days of the Revolution it was irretrievably lost. But now in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity there is kept a list close to the original source, made back in the 19th century. So why is this icon so revered in Russia and why is the prayer of the “Three Joys” addressed to it considered very powerful?

The history of the appearance of the icon

The story goes that forty years after the “Holy Family” found itself in the temple, miracles associated with it began to occur. One day, a venerable lady appeared in front of the icon with a fervent prayer on her lips. She came to the icon for many days in a row, asking for help. The woman’s prayerful zeal and the unusual choice of the icon located outside the church attracted the attention of parishioners and clergy. As it turned out during communication, three misfortunes happened in her life: her husband was slandered and sent to prison, her son was captured on a military campaign, and all her property was confiscated. For a long time the mother of the family prayed in tears to the Most Holy Theotokos for help, until one day in a dream she heard a voice commanding her to go to the “Holy Family” icon. Having awakened, the woman went as soon as possible to look for a temple in which there could be such an icon. The lady had to go around many Moscow churches before getting to the Trinity Church on Gryazekh at the Pokrovsky Gate, where she saw the long-awaited image above the church entrance in front of the porch.

Then the woman threw herself on her knees and began to pray tirelessly. After some time, three miracles, three joys happened: the son returned alive, the husband was released, and the property was returned. Since then, in honor of these events, the icon was renamed “Three Joys” and moved inside the temple. Over the years, many miracles associated with the icon have happened. They began to copy the painting according to Orthodox iconographic canons, but the content remained the same - the holy family in the person of the infant Christ, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and the young John the Baptist. The image was revered even in the royal house of the Romanov family.

How does the “Three Joys” prayer help?

It is believed that the icon of the “Three Joys” should be prayed in cases when people:

• Got into difficult situations in a foreign country;
• ended up in captivity and on the battlefields;
• lost their shelter and property;
• suffered from slander.

In prayers to the icon, they often ask for a successful marriage, for children for infertile couples, for the admonition of people who have lost their minds, for a way out of a difficult situation.

Below are the prayer, text of the troparion and kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos.

Prayer to the icon of the “Three Joys”

Oh, Most Holy Virgin, the All-Blessed Son of the All-Blessed Mother, the protection of the reigning city and the holy temple of this temple, faithful representative and intercessor of all! Do not despise the prayers of us, your unworthy servants, but beg your son and our God, so that all of us, with faith and tenderness before your miraculous image, worship, according to every need, grant joy: to the sinner all-effective admonition, repentance and salvation; consolation for those who are in sorrow and sorrow; in the troubles and bitterness of those who remain there is a complete abundance of these; hope and patience for the faint-hearted and unreliable; those who live in joy and abundance give unceasing thanksgiving to God; those who exist in illness are healing and strengthening. O Madam Most Pure! Have mercy on all who honor Your honorable name, and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession: protect and preserve your people from visible and invisible enemies. Establish marriages in love and like-mindedness; educate infants, young ones to be wise, open their minds to the perception of every useful teaching; Protect half-blooded people from domestic quarrels with peace and love, and give us all love for each other, peace and piety and health with long life, so that everyone in heaven and on earth will lead You, as a strong and shameless representative of the Christian race, and these leading , glorify Thee and Thy Son with Thee, with His beginningless Father and His consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion to the Most Holy Theotokos before the icon of Her “Three Joys”

Voice 4

From Your holy icon/ You filled the heart of the pious woman with unspeakable joy./ O Most Pure Lady of the world,/ Almighty Queen of joy, Ever-Virgin creature,/ She returned her husband, her son, and her property,/ so you are merciful to all of us,/ Grant the fulfillment of good desires,/ exuding an ever-flowing source of joy to those who pray to You/ and to those who cry out with all their hearts:/ You have given birth to joy to the whole world,// Fill those who venerate T with unfading joy I.

The famous Moscow icon of the Mother of God “Three Joys” is a copy of Catholic images of the Holy Family. There is enough interesting legend, telling about how exactly this icon ended up in Russia. By the way, the icon of the “Three Joys” did not immediately acquire its name. A legend also tells about its origin, which guides often like to voice during sightseeing tours in the center of Moscow.

How did this icon appear in Russia?

Original miraculous icon, according to legend, was brought to Russia from Italy during the reign of Peter Romanov. The legend tells about a certain nameless young man who went to study painting in Europe. Returning to his homeland after studying, the artist left a painting, which is now known as the icon of the “Three Joys,” for safekeeping with his relative, who worked in one of the Moscow churches.

The legend raises a lot of questions. The fact that the young man went to study not in Holland, as was customary in those days (that is, during the reign of Peter the Great), but in Italy, can be explained. For example, he could have gone there from Holland. This point is fundamental, since the fascination with Italians (artists, architects and sculptors) among Russian rulers began in the middle of Elizabeth’s reign. In the time of Peter, painting was studied in Holland.

It is also unclear why the name of the master is missing from the legend. Firstly, everyone who went to study at the expense, figuratively speaking, of the sovereign’s treasury, was strictly taken into account. Even if the master went to study at his own expense, he returned to a Moscow relative - an official clergyman. That is, establishing the name of the artist should not be difficult. However, it is not known. There are many other inconsistencies in this legend, but there is no other explanation for the appearance of an image in the Catholic manner within the walls of the Moscow Orthodox church No.

How the icon got its name

According to the urban legend, which is told by almost every Moscow guide, the icon of the “Three Joys” acquired significance because of a story that happened several decades after the installation of the image within the walls of the temple.

According to legend, a certain noble woman fell into despair because her husband was slandered and imprisoned, her son was captured, and the authorities seized the family estate. Day after day the unfortunate woman prayed to the Mother of God for help, spending her days without sleep, water or food in front of the images in the deepest despair.

One day the sufferer had a dream, and in a vision the Mother of God visited her and ordered her to pray at an icon that no one had ever worshiped in Moscow, namely, before the image of the “Holy Family.” Opening her eyes, the woman went in search of the desired image and, having walked around almost all the city churches, finally found the icon, located in the farthest and darkest corner of a small church. There was no place in front of the image where a candle could be placed; the lamps were not burning. The woman prayed, holding the candle in her hands until it burned out completely. Of course, the temple servants could not help but notice this.

Later a short time The devout believer returned to the church again and just as fervently thanked the Mother of God in front of the same image of the “Three Joys.” The icon of the Mother of God, which had not previously been significant in the eyes of the clergy, attracted their attention thanks to these two visits. The woman told the rector of the temple about her troubles and that she had been given three great joys: her husband was acquitted, her son returned to his homeland safe and sound, and the arrest was lifted from the authorities’ property.

Whether this story actually happened or not, no one can say. There are no names or dates in the legend. However, theoretically these events could happen. Be that as it may, it is believed that in connection with this story the icon of the “Three Joys” acquired meaning. What the image helps and to whom is clear from the legend. It received its name from the number of joys given to the sufferer from legend.

Where is this icon located?

The icon of the Mother of God of the “Three Joys” is located in Moscow, in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Gryazekh. It was within these walls that the events from the urban legend telling about a suffering high society lady took place. It was its abbot who was a relative of the artist who brought the image from Europe.

The temple, of course, also never changed its location. You can find it on Pokrovka Street, the building serial number is 13. It is very close to the metro stations:

• "Turgenevskaya";
• "Sretensky Boulevard";
• "Chistye Prudy"

The church doors are open daily from eight in the morning until seven in the evening, but there is no icon of the “Three Joys” in the temple hall. What does the image help with, how to worship it and when - you can ask the ministers about this.

When can you see this icon?

It is difficult to say for what reason the image is not in the hall. Most likely the reason lies in the fact that the church is active. That is, its doors are open in any weather and all year round. And the effect of doors opening, letting in cold or hot air, can be detrimental to an ancient image.

The “Three Joys” icon is available to parishioners once a week, on Wednesdays. At the daytime service, a special prayer service is performed, accompanied by the reading of the lines of the akathist. At this time, the image is removed from the altar and is available for worship.

The day of veneration of the icon is the eighth of January (according to the new calendar style). Lists of the icon, made at the end of the century before last, are in many churches in Russia; services in front of them are held on the day of veneration of the named icon.

Is the “Three Joys” icon in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity real?

This issue is uncomfortable for local church leaders. The fact is that the icon taken out from the altar and considered miraculous by the parishioners has nothing to do with the image about which the legends tell. Like many other relics, the original icon of the “Three Joys” disappeared without a trace in the crucible of the revolution; nothing is known about the fate of the image after the closure of the temple. However, the image that is now in the church building can work wonders. It can be considered acquired if we perceive this concept a little more broadly than the canons dictate.

What kind of icon is kept in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity

The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Pokrovka reopened its doors to believers back in 1992. On this day, representatives of the patriarch handed over to the church several icons that were seized by customs services during an attempt to illegally export them abroad. Among them was an image that made the local ministers cross themselves. It was the icon of the Three Joys. The meaning, in which the image helps and its history, of course, were known to the servants of the temple on Pokrovka.

The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity was rebuilt in the century before last. Her new altar was consecrated in honor of the image of the Three Joys. This happened in 1861. At the same time, a copy was made from the icon, that is, a copy. However, his performance was not an imitation or an exact copy. The analogue was made in the Orthodox manner of depiction, but the icon was left in the church building, since it miraculously conveyed the mood that the original image conveyed to people.

It was from the end of the century before last that lists of the “Three Joys”, made in the Byzantine style, that is, in the Orthodox iconographic manner, began to appear everywhere. This image received special veneration in Kuban. A copy made in the century before last ended up in the church on Pokrovka on the day of its opening in 1992.

What and who can this icon help with?

How does the “Three Joys” icon help people? This is a question that does not have a precise answer. Original image helped:

• get rid of slander and slander;
• avoid false accusations;
• repay debts;
• protect loved ones from adversity during military or civil service;
• cope with other everyday adversities similar to those described in the legend.

It was believed that it helps noble women, actresses, wives and mistresses who are unable to marry a man due to differences in status, origin or other similar reasons. Ladies in veils always crowded around the icon. Famous ballerinas, including favorites of the members, also came to bow to the image royal family.

However, the clergy find it difficult to say who the current icon helps and in what ways. More will pass there is a lot of time until the moment when it will be possible to talk about who exactly prefers to turn to this icon.

How to pray in front of this icon

A prayer addressed to the “Three Joys,” like any other, must be sincere, come from a pure heart and be filled with faith. What exactly to say, how to do it (out loud or silently) does not matter.

A prayer to the image of the “Three Joys” could be like this:

“Most Holy Theotokos, Son of God and you, Saints John the Baptist and Saint Joseph the Betrothed. I pray you do not leave me (proper name) in vain sorrows, earthly anxieties and worries. I pray (listing what is needed). I pray that you grant me great joys in my needs and worries. Amen".

Although the legend about the appearance of the name is just a legend, it contains important point, which you need to pay attention to modern people. The icon acquired miraculous status and received its name only after the suffering woman returned to it with gratitude and prayed as fervently as during adversity. This means that after praying in front of the image with a request, you need to return to it with gratitude.